Overall, China is committed to peaceful development and having a defensive national defense policy, it will never pose a threat to the US.

Maintaining good strategic communication is an important way of breaking the "security dilemma". China can explain to the US that the People's Liberation Army cannot afford to, and has no intention of, challenging the US' regional and global military dominance.

China is modernizing its military to safeguard national security and interests, and provide "public products" to the rest of the world. China has never (and will never) use military force to bully others.

During US Defense Secretary Robert Gates' visit to China in January, the two sides held in-depth and frank discussions. Gates' visit played a positive role in promoting understanding between the US and China. Chen Bingde, chief of General Staff of the PLA, is expected to visit the US in the first half of this year. Such high-level military exchanges can play an important role in enhancing trust and eliminating misconceptions between the two sides.

Of course, we cannot expect one or two meetings to solve all the problems. But if both sides maintain proper communication, they can, to a large extent, reduce misunderstandings over each other's military intentions and enhance strategic mutual trust.

The world, even the Asia Pacific region, is large enough for both Chinese and US forces. The two sides should strengthen mutual military exchanges at various levels to boost strategic mutual trust, eliminate any zero-sum mentality and create win-win results.

As long as the two countries are willing to strengthen cooperation and avoid causing destruction, Chinese and American forces, especially their navies, have great potential for cooperation, including jointly dealing with non-traditional security. In doing so, the two countries will not only contribute to regional and world peace, but also enhance strategic mutual trust between their militaries, clear up misunderstandings and avoid strategic misjudgment.

Although China and the US want to promote interaction between their militaries, we should know that the road ahead is uneven and bilateral relations will continue to experience twists and turns.

Beijing and Washington should make relentless efforts to promote their common strategic objective in building a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

The author is a rear admiral and former director of the Institute for Strategic Studies of the People's Liberation Army National Defense University.

(China Daily 02/16/2011 page9)